How Foul Is Backbiting?

How foul is backbiting? – الغيبة

The Prophet and his Companions once passed by the rotting carcass of a donkey/mule.

He said to his Companions:

لأَنْ يَأْكُلْ أَحَدُكُمْ مِنْ هَذَا حَتَّى يَمْلَأَ بَطْنَهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ الْمُسْلِمِ

“That one of you eat from this carcass until his belly is full, is better than to eat the flesh of his Muslim brother.”
[i.e. it means backbiting/gossiping].

[“Musanaf Ibn Abi Shaybah”, 24950 – صحيح ].